Chapter 4

The body cultivation method was unlike anything the previous owner of this body knew, although it could be because he was severely lacking in knowledge.

Using the elements, I could possess outstanding defense, speed, and offensive capabilities. It was a super OP cultivation method and I am pretty sure countless big shots would try to coerce me into giving up this cultivation method, if word of it would somehow got out. Well, we'll cross that line when we get to it.

For now, I was trying to think about how to start cultivating this super powerful cultivation method without getting showered by unwanted attention.

I got my answer when we reached the training grounds. The physical training class was the longest class in my schedule, consisting of an entire 1 hour. The first 30 minutes the instructors would make us do the required exercises and the rest 30 we could spend cultivating or training combat skills.

After the grueling half an hour of running, jumping and doing a pile of exercises, I wandered off to an empty place and sat down. The training grounds were huge, bigger than any stadium I had ever seen. So there were plenty of places where there were no people and the instructors didn't really care for the rest of the 30 minutes, which was a good thing for me.

Anyways, now was the time to put my overthinking ability to good use. First, I checked my dantian and meridians and to my delight found them unblocked and pure of any impurities. Maybe it was due to my inhabitation of this body but the reason didn't bother me the slightest. For now, I was thinking of which element to start with.

The cultivation method only involved the infusion of elements in some parts of the body, using tattoos, which would activate when spiritual energy passess through it. For instance, a tattoo on my legs, related to the air element, would temporarily increase my speed. However, the fact that I had to activate it and the fact that these tattoos were extremely complicated made me want to give up this method. Instead, I tried to focus on modifying this cultivation method and make it suitable for my extraordinary needs.

First, I tried to sense the elements. Air, water, fire and earth were easy but lightning, darkness and light were harder. I concentrated on feeling the elements properly and tried to take less time. Within 5 minutes, I had raised my sensitivity to an acceptable level and now I was about to take my first step to become strong.

Water for flexibility, defence and agility, Fire for strength and explosive power, Earth for defence, strength and stability, Air for speed and accuracy, Lightning for defence, explosive speed and strength, Darkness for regeneration and defence and Light for speed, and even more regeneration. These were the direct physical characteristics I was hoping to acquire using the elements. The effects I could use in combat like making illusions through Light, I left for later.

My plan was simple, instead of inscribing tattoos of a single element on different parts of my body, I would directly let all the elements infuse throughout my body, some even inside my body. For some reason, I had a fear that if I just sped my legs using the air tattoo, my legs would rip off my body and go flying while the rest of my body stayed there.

I first chose Water, as even if something went wrong it wouldn't hurt me as much as using the other elements. I thought about using Air or Light but in the end chose Water. I sensed the Water elemental energy, this time much faster than my previous attempt, and tried to redirect it towards my body. It was easier than I thought and I felt a cool and gentle energy flow through the outer layer of my body. Steeling myself, I tried to get it to pierce my skin, which proved harder, and finally succeeded. It was painful but it was worth it when I found a pathway made of only Water elemental energy flowing just beneath the surface of my body, even my head.

Instantly, I felt more flexible and agile than I had ever felt before. Emboldened by my success, I redirected the Water elemental energy inside my body, seeking to reinforce my internal organs, and skeleton. My rationality had went out of the window by the sudden strength gain and I made a stupid decision.

In just a moment, pain erupted inside me and I had to use every ounce of my willpower to stop myself from screaming. The pain was unbearable and I tried to stop the energy but I couldn't produce the willpower required to control the energy. My insides were churning, I think literally, and I felt blood and bile in my mouth. Maybe my crossing over had resulted in the strengthening of my soul which might have been why I could still resist the pain. If I had felt a fraction of this pain in my previous life, I most certainly would have screamed like hell and probably passed out in a second.

The hellish pain suddenly stopped, as if it never existed. For a second, I just laid down on the ground and took deep, heaving breaths and assessed my condition. Thankfully, my organs were in their intended places and I was still alive. However, my effort had paid off as I saw a pathway of Water elemental energy inside my body, and a very thin layer on top of my skeleton too. I was physically exhausted but mentally my happiness was soaring limitlessly.

Groaning a little, I sat up and found out that too much time hadn't passed, as I had initially thought. Instead I still had about 10 minutes and for a moment, I debated over what to do. The lingering effects of the pain had gone and I was just feeling a little queasy. The hellish pain made me realise I shouldn't do stuff like that without proper deliberation and analysis. After some moments, I steeled myself and thought to finish Air and Earth, with the latter also going inside. This time the process was much faster and after 5 minutes, Air and Earth elemental pathways had been formed just beneath the surface of my skin, side by side and beside the Water pathway. These pathways were connected to my dantian and were also taking in energies from the surrounding, alleviating a lot of load from my dantian. These had almost become passive skills and I was glad.

Once again preparing myself, I led the Earth elemental energy inside my body, this time slowly and carefully. The pain was lesser this time and also came in waves, instead of the previous outburst. By the time the instructors were rounding everyone up and signalled for the end of the period, I was finished and joined the rest of my class, pleased with my progress.

Pondering over my future plans, I vowed to complete all the elements today and focus on siphoning some of the energy from my power, which I pictured as a shining glob, towards my dantian to increase my cultivation speed and hopefully break through some realms, tomorrow.

Today was my first day in this cultivation world and I was both excited and nervous for the upcoming days. I was determined to survive, become OP and live peacefully.

Unfortunately, all my goals would take a lot of time and my third goal was about to be disturbed right now by the boy glaring at me.

"Ansel! I challenge you to a duel!"

Well, hopefully my first fight would be an awesome victory.